AFGHANISTAN: INSTALLING THOUSANDS OF CAMERAS RISKS CREATING TOTAL SURVEILLANCE STATE

Responding to the Taliban’s decision to install 62,000 security cameras across Kabul and other areas, Matt Mahmoudi, Amnesty International’s Researcher and Advisor on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, said:

“Implementing such a vast architecture of mass surveillance under the guise of ‘national security’ sets a template for the Taliban to continue its draconian policies that violate fundamental rights of people in Afghanistan — especially women in public spaces.  

Implementing such a vast architecture of mass surveillance under the guise of ‘national security’ sets a template for the Taliban to continue its draconian policies that violate fundamental rights of people in Afghanistan — especially women in public spaces.  

Matt Mahmoudi, Amnesty International’s Researcher and Advisor on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

“If installed, this surveillance architecture would also erode the rights to privacy and freedom of assembly and expression, which have been under unprecedented attack since the Taliban came to power, resulting in the rule of law fading away.”

Background

Amnesty International has previously documented how the Israeli authorities use facial recognition technology to support their continued domination and oppression of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The organization has also documented the use of thousands of facial recognition-capable CCTV cameras across New York City, many of which were used in communities of colour and amplified racially discriminatory policing.  

Since their takeover of the country, the Taliban have decimated the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. The magnitude and severity of the Taliban’s violations against women and girls are also increasing month by month.